A Car Blog. Only Angrier

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Toyota, Money, Certificates

CamryAutoWeek reports: Pretty Appliance. You know, it is a toaster. We know that sounds funny, but Toyota removes the inspiration from the car and makes it something to just take for granted. And we're not saying that's a bad thing at all. Toyota (Honda, too) takes a car and refines the hell out of it until it's perfect. And we bet that most non–car enthusiasts don't want a car for inspiration or the thrill of driving. They just want to get to work without breaking down. And what's Detroit doing? Rather than refining, they just come out with new models. That's the executive way. What else is the executive way?...

[Mr. Lutz]: "Here's where people get this wrong: They say, 'Why are executives paid so much? You have to ask: Why are professional athletes paid so much?'"

What? Before that he said:

"I have to say I gave at the office," GM Vice Chairman and product chief Bob Lutz said, referring to what he estimates is a 60 percent drop in his salary after company losses forced him to forgo a bonus and rendered his stock options worthless.

Poor Mr. Lutz. In the last few years (2003+2004), he made 11,000,000 d o l l a r s. In the first nine months of 2005, GM lost 4,800,000,000 dollars.

Lutz asserted that cutting executive pay could trigger a talent drain at a time when the automaker needs to marshal all of its resources.

HybridsCNN/Money reports: Rivals challenge Toyota's hybrid push. We're pretty sure everyone agrees that hybrids aren't the answer. Using less fuel is. We're glad there's a choice out there for all of us to choose what we want to buy: hybrids, diesels, less-powerful engines, etc. Fuel economy could be raised if manufacturers would stop making 225+ horsepower cars and focus on refining the current technology (i.e., make current engines more fuel-efficient, improve tranmissions so power isn't wasted).

I agree on your hybrid comment. I'd gladly pay more for a fuel efficient car (that provides a real ROI), but I won't buy a Rube Goldberg hybrid.

Automakers could easily put that $3,000 hybrid premium into making vehicles lighter (aluminum bodies?), more aerodynamic (like the Prius), and with better transmissions. All these things result in no more complexity.

The cynical side of me makes me think that Hybrids are a big conspiracy. The automakers really want the downstream parts & repair income when these hybrid systems start wearing out.

Look at Consumer Reports reliabilty rankings for most cars. The most unreliable subsystem of ALL cars is usually the electrical system. And you really want a car with $10,000+ list price hybrid components just waiting to break?

No thanks. Give me a 2,500lb aluminum bodied Accord with a 2.0L diesel and 6 speed tranny. That hypothetical car will get far better fuel economy than your typical hybrid.

Are you guys all failed auto designers that have a grudge against Detroit, or the country of your birth? The Japanese, Koreans, Germans, ect. were beat, but you don't see their citizens bad-mouthing themselves. I have owned a '93 Chevy S-10 for years, and it has never let me down. If you are so impressed with everyone else, I say pack your bags & move, bitch.